Dancing or watching dance in UK/London

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< Up	Life / Entertainment / Dance
Dance in the UK


Sections:	Introduction
	Dance classes
	English folk dancing
	Scottish country dancing
	Irish folk dancing
	Ballroom dancing
	Ballet/dance tickets
	Links

INTRODUCTION

Watch dance or go dancing in the UK.

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DANCE CLASSES

To find evening classes in London, see: http://www.floodlight.co.uk, select the "course finder" and choose "Dance".
Among the many types of dance classes which are available are: African, ballet, ballroom, bhangra, contemporary, Egyptian, flamenco, jazz, line dancing, salsa, Scottish, tango and tap dancing.

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ENGLISH FOLK DANCING

The English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS) promotes folk dances and songs in England. The club is based at Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regents Park Road, London NW1 7AY: about a 5-minute walk from Camden Town underground station on the Northern line (see: map). A list of events at Cecil Sharp House is at: http://www.efdss.org/this_wk.htm.

To find out about folk dancing in other parts of England and Wales, follow the links on: http://www.efdss.org/links.htm.

For photos and information about Morris dancing (a traditional style of English dancing): Ideas/Album/MorrisDancing

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SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING

A ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee) is a type social occasion with music and dancing which is popular in Scotland.

The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society organises classes and dances in the UK and elsewhere in the world: http://www.rscds.org.
Its London website is: http://www.rscdslondon.org.uk. For links to UK websites related to Scottish country dancing, see: http://www.rscdslondon.org.uk/html/links.html

The Ceilidh Club organises Scottish dancing evenings at the English Folk & Dance Club in London (for location details, see: English folk dancing). Drinks are available from a bar, but there is no food inside. There is no dress code. The events can be very popular, so it is best to book your ticket in advance. Students can get discounted entry prices: show your student identification (with photo) when you arrive. To check dates, prices and other details, see: http://www.ceilidhclub.com.

Scottish Country Dancing (Audio CD)
Artist: Bobby Crowe
Label: Emporio
Date: March 1998

Scottish Ceilidh Dancing (book: how to dance)
Authors: David Ewart, Mary Ewart
Publisher: Mainstream Publishing
Date: August 1996

IRISH FOLK DANCING

Set dancing has been popular in Ireland for over 150 years: these dances involve four couples dancing in a square.
Step dancing is a form of individual Irish dancing which was made popular by dancers such as Michael Flatley in Riverdance and Lord of the Dance.
Ceili dancing involves a wide range of dances (involving groups of different sizes and formations), with steps which are similar to those used in step dancing (this type of dancing is found in Northern Ireland, but is not common in Southern Ireland).

The London Irish Centre (Camden Town, London NW1) organise a range of Irish dance events. Each Sunday evening there is Ceili dancing, with basic tuition for newcomers during the first hour. People of all ages and nationalities are welcome. For further details, see: http://www.irishcentre.org/social-cultural/dance

For a list of set dancing classes and ceilis in Britain, see: http://www.setdancingnews.net/news/bclasses.lp.

Toss the Feathers: Irish Set Dancing (book)
Author: Pat Murphy
Publisher: Mercier Press
Date: June 1995

Michael Flatley - Gold (DVD)
Studio: Vision Video Ltd
Publisher: Mainstream Publishing
Date: March 2001

BALLROOM DANCING

For a list of ballroom and Latin American dance schools and places to dance in the UK (organised by region) see: http://www.dancesport.uk.com/studios/index.htm.

Discover Dance - Ballroom (DVD)
Studio: Quantum Leap Group Limited
Date: March 2002

Ballroom Dancing (Flowmotion) (book: how to dance)
Author: Paul Bottomer
Publisher: Connections
Date: December 2002

BALLET/DANCE TICKETS

You can use the following links to book tickets to watch ballet or other dance performances in the UK:
- Ticketmaster
- TicketSwitch

In London the main locations for ballet are: Royal Opera House , Sadler's Wells , London Coliseum
There is a lottery you can enter (for free) for a chance to buy for just £10 a ticket for a Monday performance by the Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House. For details of this offer, see: http://www.travelex.royaloperahouse.org. Apply at least two weeks before the performance.

Birmingham Royal Ballet (c) Heart of England

Ballet
performance

The Royal Opera House,
Covent Garden, London

FURTHER INFORMATION

For more information about dance in London, see: http://www.londondance.com

The regional arts councils help to provide funding for artists and art organisations:
Arts Council England: http://www.artscouncil.org.uk
Scottish Arts Council: http://www.scottisharts.org.uk
Arts Wales: http://www.artswales.org
Arts Council of Northern Ireland: http://www.artscouncil-ni.org

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LINKS

Clubbing: Life/Entertainment/Clubbing
Morris dancing (a traditional style of English dancing): Ideas/Album/MorrisDancing
British music: Britain/Music

Home page: Home

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